Opposition leader Peter Dutton has described a “sense of relief” following the defeat of the Voice referendum, as leaders scramble to find a new way forward.
Australian’s resoundingly rejected the proposed Voice to Parliament in a national ballot on Saturday, with only one state or territory reporting a majority “yes” vote.
After leading the “No” campaign, Mr Dutton said he felt relieved waking up on Sunday and had feared the country would have “changed” for the worse had it passed.
“Most importantly, I don’t think we would’ve got the practical outcomes for Indigenous Australians that we all want,” Mr Dutton told 60 Minutes reporter Amelia Adams.
“There is (reason to celebrate). We live in the greatest country in the world. We should celebrate the success that we’ve got within Indigenous communities now.
“Had we enshrined the Voice, I think we would’ve put at risk some of the success … we have to listen to the verdict … If we can do that, there is opportunity for a bright future.”
The Liberal leader hit back in his interview with 60 Minutes at criticism over his role in the No campaign, which was described by prominent Yes campaigner Thomas Mayo as “disgusting”.
“One in two Labor voters who have voted no, they haven’t been influenced by the campaign that I’ve run. They’ve been influenced by the fact the detail just wasn’t there,” Mr Dutton said.
“The Prime Minister acted against advice. He was warned not to take the country down this divisive path, and he made the decision to keep the design of the Voice from the people.
“For his own reasons – for his own motivations and self interest – the Prime Minister thought that he could have his Redfern moment. I don’t think that is the leadership Australians want.
“It should be about our country, about Indigenous Australians. About a moment of unification. And, he (Prime Minister Anthony Albanese) has squandered that opportunity.”
Mr Albanese told the media on Saturday night that the Yes campaign had “given our all”, adding that the vote was not the “end of the road” on addressing Aboriginal disadvantage.
“Just as I offered many times to co-operate with people from across the political spectrum on the next steps in the event of a Yes victory, I renew that offer tonight,” Mr Albanese said.
“Because this moment of disagreement does not define us, and it will not divide us. We are not Yes voters or No voters.
“We are all Australians, and it is as Australians, together, that we must take our country beyond this debate without forgetting why we had it in the first place.”
The defeat of the Voice referendum was widely forecast in polls prior to the ballot, with the final result still coming as a shock to many in the Yes camp.
As of Sunday afternoon, less than 40 per cent of Australian population had voted “Yes”, with Western Australia reporting the highest “No” vote.
The ACT was the only state or territory to record a majority “Yes” vote, with more than 157,000 people, or about 60 per cent of the voting population.